US District Judge Sparkle Sooknanan struck down the Justice Department’s nationwide policy of checking state voter rolls against immigration databases and seeking removals. Her October 9 ruling found legal and privacy violations and covers files already obtained. 18 states had fully complied with the requests. States retain their own list-maintenance authority, and the department says it is reviewing the decision.
US District Judge Sparkle Sooknanan struck down the Justice Department’s nationwide voter-roll policy on October 9. The department sought state voter lists, compared them against federal immigration data and pressed states to remove people it considered ineligible. The Washington-based judge ruled in a case brought by a voting-rights advocacy organisation and individual voters.[1], [2]
According to the 78-page ruling, 18 states fully complied with the department’s requests. The department sued most other states; one reached a settlement. The decision covers lists already received as well as those still sought through litigation. Sooknanan rejected the department’s argument that federal voter-registration laws authorised the collection, comparisons and demands for removals.[1]
She found violations of the Administrative Procedure Act and Privacy Act. She said the policy had removed US citizens from their states’ rolls and cited inaccuracies in federal databases.[1]
The court said states could still maintain their own voter lists and receive lawful federal assistance. The Justice Department said it was reviewing the decision. Federal law also restricts systematic voter removals in the ninety days before an election.[1]
